Folding stretcher



(No Model.) A

H. WAGNER 8v M. J. DWYER.

FOLDING STRETUHER.

N0.567 ,524. PatentedSept.8, 1896.

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UNITED STATES I PATENT OFF CE.

HENRY WAGNER AND MIOH-AEL'J. DWYER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

FOLDING SJTRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 567,524, dated September 8, 1896.

Applicati n filed June 22, 1896. Serial No. 596,534. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, HENRY IVAGNER and MICHAEL J. DWYER, citizens of the United States, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding Stretchers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the stretcher folded. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing our improved stretcher adjusted to be used as a chair. side elevational view showing the stretcher extended. Fig. 4. is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5 5, Fig. 2.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in folding stretchers, the object being to so construct a stretcher that it can be folded up, when it will occupy a small space, and when opened may be used either as a chair or a stretcher proper.

WVith this object in view the invention consists in pivotally securing three frames together in such manner that they may be folded, one upon the other, to occupya small space, and when opened form a stretcher or chair.

In the drawings, A indicates a frame consisting of the side rails (0, whose ends are slightly reduced to form handles. This frame is covered by some fabric B, which is secured to the top faces of the side rails a.

0 indicates a cross-brace formed with lugs c, fitting against the inner side of the'rails a, said brace being also formed with lugs c, which extend under the rails a. The fabric B, being secured to the upper faces of the rails a, tends to draw said faces of the rails toward each other when a weight is on the fabric, which tendency is resisted by the brace,whose construction, as above described, gives rigidity to the frame.

D indicates a frame composed of side rails cl, fabric E, and braces F, which braces are constructed similarly to braces O. This frame D is pivotally secured to the inner faces of the rails a by means of suitable pivot-bolts One of the braces F is preferably arranged at the extreme outer ends of rails d,

Fig. 3 is a so that should an inexperienced person handle the stretcher when it is in the position shown in Fig. 3 and attempt to lift that end of the stretcher without grasping the rails d the fabric E will be protected from being torn off the rails, which sometimes happens.

G indicates a frame composed of side rails g, fabric H, and braces I, one of which braces is arranged at the outer end of the frame similarly to the one described on frame D. This frame G is pivotally secured to the outer faces of rails a by means of suitable bolts J indicates a chain which is secured to the outer faces of rails g, said chain having a pin on its end which is adapted to be inserted in an opening in the rail a to brace the frame G when the stretcher is used as a chair, as shown in Fig. 2. \Vhen the stretcher is arranged as shown in Fig. 3, that is, all the frames are practically on the same plane, this pin on the end of chain J is adapted to be inserted through an opening in the rail 9 and an alining opening in the rail a. When the frame D is extended on the same plane as frame A, it abuts against the under side of cars a, which are secured to the upper faces of the front ends of rails a.

From the above description it will be noted that the stretcher may be folded so as to shorten its length, such as shown in Fig. l. The stretcher may be used as a chair, as shown in Fig. 2, or as an ordinary stretcher, as shown in Figs. Sand 4. In converting the chair into a stretcher it is unnecessary to remove the patient, as by the withdrawal of the pins of the chains J and permitting the frame G to gradually lower the frameD will follow in parallel lines relative to frame G. In converting the stretcher into a chair all that is necessary is to remove the pins on chains J, chock the free end of frame D, as by a person placing his foot thereagainst and then raising frame G to a verticalposition. Both the frames D and G have brackets on the under sides of their free ends to support the stretcher from the floor to enable a person to readily pass his hands under the rails-to-lift the same.

We are aware that many minor changes can be made in construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of our device and substituted for those herein shown and described Without in the least departing from the nature and principle of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, What We claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a folding stretcher, the combination With the frame A, of a frame D pivoted thereon, and adapted to fold outwardly against lugs or ears a. arranged at the front end of frame A, a frame G pivoted to the other end of frame A, and chains J provided With pins on their ends adapted to cooperate With openings in the frames A and G; substantially as described.

2. In a folding stretcher, the combination With the frame A, composed of side rails and Witnesses:

HUGH K. WAGNER, F. R. CORNWALL. 

